TV News

Mystery Solved: The Meaning Behind the ‘Frasier’ Song 'Tossed Salad and Scrambled Eggs'

By:
Kelly Schremph

Apr 10, 2012 | 1:10pm EDT

Many sitcom theme songs are pretty straightforward. With Friends it was all about being there for each other in times of need; The Big Bang Theory is a science/history lesson and self-induced seizure all rolled into one; and even though Dexter relies more on metaphorical visual aids than actual lyrics, you still get the basic premise of what it's implying. But when it came to Frasier's seemingly random talk of "tossed salads and scrambled eggs," we were continually stumped. What could two such random food options have to do with a sitcom about rich psychiatrists? At long last, the reasoning behind the madness has finally been revealed.

According to Best Week Ever, former Frasier writer Ken Levine was able to track down Bruce Miller — the composer of the sitcom's theme song — and ask him what exactly those puzzling words really meant. Here's what he had to say:

"I was told they wanted something pretty eclectic and jazzy, but to avoid any direct references to specific subject matter. So it was necessary to stay away from words about psychiatry, radio shows, the name “Frasier”, and anything else directly indicating aspects of the show....So I called my friend Darryl Phinnesse who is really talented and really smart. I gave him the idea of the show and he called back with the idea of 'Tossed Salads and Scrambled Eggs.' At first I was a bit baffled myself until he explained that these were things that were 'mixed up'….like Frasier Crane’s patients."

Did anyone else just feel an enormous Frasier-weight lift off their shoulders? I've been wanting to know this since the show debuted in 1993. That's 19 years of frustration all cleared up in just one afternoon. Now the only question that remains is: what am I going to do with all this free time?